Meet Gizem Salcigil White, aka the Turkish Coffee Lady! She is the Founder & CEO of Turkish Coffee Lady, the first and only authentic Turkish coffee brand in the U.S., dedicated to building a global community of coffee explorers and empowering women. With a brick-and-mortar coffee house in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, Gizem has created a space to share 500 years of Turkish coffee traditions—offering delicious coffee, cultural connection, and community.

Her journey began over fifteen years ago with a coffee truck and a mission to "bridge cultures over coffee conversations.” After studying Global Marketing Communications at Emerson University, she realized many people were unfamiliar with Turkish coffee culture. She started organizing social coffee events, which evolved into a “digital coffee house” with fellow entrepreneurs. While working at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., she expanded her events into pop-ups, eventually launching her own coffee truck first at GWU and then around the world.

Gizem shares the history of Turkish coffee—how it's made, served, read (yes, read!), and enjoyed. In an era of to-go cups and laptop work sessions, she encourages guests to slow down, savor their coffee, and connect with one another. She also champions the concept of Culinary Diplomacy—bringing communities together over food and drink.

Despite facing personal challenges, including the pandemic, Gizem remained resilient, diving back into her business with renewed purpose. She founded The Turkish Coffee Lady Foundation, dedicated to community engagement, and has since launched her own coffee blend, opened her dream coffee shop, and continues to empower women to start their own businesses.

We know you’ll want to immediately go brew a cup after listening to this episode, or better yet, if you’re in the Alexandria area, stop by the Turkish Coffee Lady on King Street, where you will feel as though you’ve been transported to Turkey.

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With a clear vision for empowering women, we are joined on the podcast by author and speaker, Leslie Grossman, a trailblazer in leadership, gender equality, and women's empowerment. After decades of coaching and mentoring women leaders in America, Leslie is now largely focused on helping women gain sight of and reach their vision. Her interest in the topic of vision and vision formation stems from a study she once conducted as a researcher, asking women whether they had a vision within their role as leaders. More often than not, they did. It’s the next step, trying to get to their vision, where many often get stuck.

What Leslie has learned after years of working with women in business, is that a crucial step is often to simply get out of one's own way. Leslie describes a phenomenon where people become complacent when things are going "fine." Sometimes, it's only when we're pushed out of our comfort zone that we truly discover our vision, and where we want to get to. One important thing to keep in mind? No one reaches their vision alone. Having a “circle of collaboration” around you is vital in creating your vision.

Leslie provides tools for creating a vision, explains the difference between visions and goals, and discusses how visions can evolve over time. We left this conversation inspired to re-evaluate our own visions, and we believe you will too. You can read Leslie's latest book, "Start with Vision," to help you start considering your own vision.

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We are joined by Rebecca Henson, Founder and Director of the Springsong Museum in Silver Spring, Maryland, which promises to be a world-class community museum dedicated to the life and legacy of Rachel Carson. With a background in history and environmental policy, and as a Silver Spring local, Rebecca tells us about Rachel Carson—a writer, biologist, and Montgomery County resident who is often regarded as the “Mother of the Modern Environmental Movement.” She also shares her own journey to discovering this visionary and the importance of connecting with the place where one lives.

With a shared interest in history, environmental work, the world around her, and the interconnection between humans and nature—and especially the fact that Rachel Carson touched so much of the very community Rebecca and her family call home—Rebecca felt a deep kinship with Rachel. This connection inspired her to learn more about the woman and eventually dedicate her time to bringing the Springsong Museum to life. Rebecca shares a personal struggle and how the idea of material immortality—something she discovered is a tenet of Rachel Carson’s work—along with her own connection to the seashore, helped her heal and led her to the work she does today.

Surrounded by 25 acres of nature, the Springsong Museum is being designed to merge nature and accessibility through the efforts of many community members. It stands as a true celebration of renewal, nature, and community.

We hope you enjoy listening to Rebecca’s journey of discovering Rachel Carson, and, along the way, learning so much about herself and the community around her. We encourage you to follow the Springsong Museum’s journey and visit it once it opens!

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Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes has dedicated her career to public service and currently serves as the Director of the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services, leading a robust team. Throughout our conversation, she shares insights on balancing her career and motherhood—a challenge faced by many parents, especially women, every day. While some may avoid the topic of managing both children and a career, Dr. Morris-Hughes addresses it head-on, always striving to make the workplace better for future generations.

Dr. Morris-Hughes discusses the significant impact that coaches and leaders have had on her journey, particularly when she began her career, while at the same time becoming a new mother. Dr. Morris-Hughes highlighted the distinction between being a leader and being the leader, sharing a personal story where she initially thought coaching was being offered because she was falling short. In reality, it was the opposite—she was being given the support and resources to grow into the potential her superiors saw in her. From the beginning of her coaching journey, values have been a cornerstone of her professional and personal growth, prompting all of us to reflect on our own guiding principles: What values do we prioritize?

Later in the episode, Dr. Morris-Hughes talked about how her upbringing influenced her career and how coaching helped her realize that she didn’t need to "burn the candle at both ends." This realization not only made her a more effective leader but also a better mother, demonstrating how an external perspective can dramatically reshape our own.

Towards the end of our conversation, she introduced the concept of "becoming a corporate athlete" and emphasized how the same steps an athlete takes to stay at the top of their game also apply to leaders aiming for peak performance. Dr. Morris-Hughes also discussed her concept of “professional vacations”—time she sets aside specifically for innovation—and how she encourages her team to do the same, leveraging the coaching and development tools that have been instrumental to her success.

We concluded our conversation with Dr. Morris-Hughes shares three key lessons she’s learned through coaching: protect your time, create space to rest and recharge, and always maintain perspective. She carries each of these every day, and does her best to instill them in each person she mentors along the way.

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Meet Henry Shukman, poet, author, and Zen master. We begin our conversation by exploring how Henry navigates his life, both inwardly and outwardly, with a deep commitment to mindfulness. Henry shares insights on being present in the world and how his various life paths often merge, guided by his body's inclination towards creativity, especially poetry.

Starting from his early experiences, Henry recounts a story about a hobo named Speedy who taught him that a home isn't just four walls; the whole world can be your home if you take time to be still every day. This lesson has profoundly influenced Henry's approach to life and spirituality.

Henry explains how each person can find their way in the world and how meditation is about coming home to oneself, especially in moments of overwhelm—a feeling most of us can relate to. He reminds us that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to meditation and finding one's deeper self. For those starting, Henry's app, The Way, offers a guided introduction to meditation, making it accessible amidst the overwhelming number of options available. Yoga is another path he suggests, emphasizing the importance of connecting with your body.

Addressing the often-discouraging long path of spiritual growth, Henry shares the shifts he has experienced over the years and the journey he still sees ahead of him. It's about the process, not the end goal. He discusses this in his book, "Original Love." Henry also opens up about his concussion and difficult recovery, which helped him realize he was experiencing the world with more "heartfulness," turning his injury into a blessing. He explains why heartbreak, though dreaded by many, can be a valuable teacher.

We conclude our conversation with a discussion of Henry's book, "Original Love," which serves as a manifesto, map, and manual for spirituality in the twenty-first century. This essential guide replaces the concept of original sin with original love as the true foundation of life. We know you will leave this conversation feeling rejuvenated and maybe even inspired to begin your journey of meditation if you’ve been interested but hesitant to start.

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If you ask Tara Palacios about her passion for small businesses and entrepreneurship, she may answer you, “Small business is my schtick.” With a background in marketing and PR in the private sector and a stint helping her father reinvent his own career, Tara followed her gut, moving to a role where she could use her honed skills to help businesses in the community grow. After joining Arlington County over twenty years ago and eventually founding the BizLaunch initiative, she’s never looked back.

Tara’s interactions with her clients often start when they bring her a dream. The work then begins: molding that dream into a reality, assessing the sustainability of the business, moving the plan forward through tangible and calculated actions, making valuable connections, and working through the challenges that inevitably arise. Tara and her team lift up their clients with the tools, resources, and, maybe most important of all, support and encouragement, while entrepreneurs turn their dreams into viable businesses that support the Arlington community.

Tara sees the entrepreneurs and small business owners she works with go through the highs and lows of starting a business, and she empowers them to be successful. Throughout the episode, Tara speaks to the importance of helping people get out of their own way, without judgment, allowing their ideas to grow. Tara talks about the ideal candidate and how crucial it is for people to be willing to receive feedback to make their dreams a reality. And the joy her clients feel when that ribbon is cut or the goal is achieved. Tara brings joy to every person she leads, every entrepreneur in the Arlington community and beyond she works with, and certainly brought joy to this episode of the podcast.

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Life often leads us down unexpected paths, a truth Kwelli Sneed knows all too well. A graduate of the GWU e-Co Leadership Coaching Program, she now serves as the interim director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety Engagement. Initially joining as Chief of Staff during tumultuous times in the District of Columbia, Kwelli assumed the role of Director following the tragic passing of her friend and colleague, Linda Harlee Harper. She shares insights into navigating these transitions, staying true to herself, and utilizing skills honed through the program.

Photography, a passion reignited through a vivid dream reminiscent of her late aunt Sandra, led her to rediscover its significance during the pandemic's chaos, eventually leading her to use photography as the throughline in her coaching. Kwelli discovered the benefits of having her coaching clients use photography to tell the story of who they are, in both their professional and personal lives.

During the episode, Bonnie Bucker, Ina Gjikondi, and Kwelli also explore the concept of "line" and "curve," which is a cornerstone of the GWU Leadership Program and is described as representing distinct energies. Kwelli, who identifies as a "line" – analytical and methodical, recognizes the importance of personalizing one's passion as well, a characteristic of someone who describes themselves as a “curve” and follows the twists and turns of life as they come. Inspired by a fellow coach's use of photography in palliative care, she delves into how images evoke emotions and memories, integrating her passion with the science of career coaching, and harmonizing her dual identities.

Kwelli demonstrates photography's transformative power by recounting a unique community initiative, providing cameras to teenagers, predominantly boys. Witnessing their introspection and aspirations through their work, she illustrates how photography can empower individuals to explore their identities and aspirations.

This conversation acts as a thoughtful reminder to see beyond any barriers you think you may face and to always keep in mind what you’re passionate about. You won’t want to miss Kwelli’s story and how she has stocked her toolbox with tools that will help her use her passions to drive her career.

Ever feel helpless about the state of the world? Investigative journalist Roberta Baskin discusses her shift to finding hopeful stories about businesses creating positive social and environmental impact. She talks about Aim2Flourish, a program she helped to start, and where students discover these companies and write stories that focus on the UN Global Goals. Roberta emphasizes the importance of B Corporations and consumer choices while offering practical tips for reducing your carbon footprint and leaving the world a better place. Tune in and discover how businesses can be a force for good, and what you can do to be part of the solution.

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